Formation tester



Feb. 5, 1957 O. T. BROYLES FORMATION TESTER Original Filed Jun e 16, 1949 '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Of/J 7T Brag/es INVENTOR.

BY MA ATTORNEY Feb. 5, 1957 o. T. BROYLES 2,730,292

FORMATION TESTER Original Filegl June 16, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 0m 7', Bra 93 IN V EN TOR.

BY Mm- ATTO/P/VEV U d S ates P en FORMATION TESTER ()tis T. Broyles, Houston, Tex., assignor of one-half to W. B. Taylor and one-fourth toJoseph R. Crump, Houston, Tex.

Claims. ((1166-1011) This invention relates to an apparatus for testing oil wells and the like, and has for its general object the provision of a device to penetrate subterranean strata and to receive oil, liquid or gaseous contents of such strata for'the purposes of analysis, test or production. The present application is a division of my application filed June 16, 1949, Serial No. 99,500, entitled Formation Tester, now Patent No. 2,688,369.

1n the completion of oil and gas wells it frequently becomes necessary to test various strata traversed by the well bore for possible production of oil or gas, and normally such tests are made when the well bore is filled with drill fluid. In many cases the more porous formations which are penetrated are blocked ofl by the drilling mud due to the static pressure of the column of drilling mud, as well as by the pressure applied thereto during normal drilling operations. Thus it is desirable to provide an assembly which may be lowered into mud laden well bores to test various strata traversed thereby in order to determine the pore content thereof.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide a tester which is operable from the surface'and which may effectively and efliciently test strata at any point in awell bore.

A further object is the provision of means on the tester operable from the surface to engage and penetrate the wall of the well bore, the latter which may be coated or walled-up with drilling mud, to receive uncontaminated pore content of the stratum beingtested.

It is a particular feature of my invention to provide a device through which oil or gas 'may be produced continuously from the formation being sampled, and if desired, the device may be permitted to remain in the well bore to produce the well.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus which only seals ofi that portion of the formation being tested, and which automatically seals off such portion without utilizing an independent packer arrangement or packer setting operation.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a tester fulfilling the above objects andhaving the noted features which tester consists of a minimum of parts, which is rugged and simple in design and which may be manufactured and repaired easily and inexpensively.

A further feature of my invention is the provision of an apparatus which may be reset in the well bore to separately test various formations without removing the apparatus from the well bore.

Various further objects, features and advantages of my apparatus for testing wells constituting the present invention will be apparent from a description of a preferred form or example of such apparatus, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein I Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a well tester according to the invention and shown in position for lowering and raising in the well bore,

- v Patented Feb. 5, 1957 Figure 2 illustrates the tester of Figure 1 in fluid sample taking position,

Figure 3 is a view similar to that ofFigure 2'but illustrates the tester rotated aquarter turn from the position shown in Figure 2 and better illustrates the passages for flow of pore fluid from the formation through the tester and to the surface, I Figure 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectional view illustrating the valve arrangement associated with the stinger,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, vertical, sectional viewof the pressure equalizing means showing a modification of the fluid passage through the tester, and

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Figure l. 7 Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figure 1, the body 10 is threadedly secured directly to an operating string of pipe 24 by means of the threaded area 15 and the body or housing 10 is provided with the inverted or generally L-shaped vertical slot 11 therein. A laterally disposed pin 21 is provided at the lower end of the tester body 10 and pivotally secures the stinger 23 to its lower end.

As illustrated, the stinger 23 is of an elongated cylindrical configuration tapering to a sharp point at its lower end, the latter having an outwardly converging end 19 in the direction of movement toward the formation to be tested.

A vertical bore 12 forms a piston chamber 25 in the upper end of the tool and a hollow piston 27 is loosely fitted and works'therein to actuate the pressure equalizing piston members 32 and 34, respectively, which are slidably disposed in the vertical cylindrical piston openings 29 and 31, respectively, inthe upper part of the body 10. The piston members 32 and 34 move in opposite directions simultaneously and this is advantageous inasmuch as the well bore normally is filled with drilling mud when making a test, and the-hydrostatic pressure of the drilling mud. tends to lock a single piston in position. Thus, if a single piston were used, the hydrostatic pressure of the fluid in the well bore bearing against exposed surfaces would make a single piston extremely diflicult to move. While providing simultaneous and opposite movement of the piston members 32 and 34, the hydrostatic pressure is equalized on all parts of the piston arrangement thereby readily permitting movement in either direction.

An ear 39 is provided proximate the lower portion of the piston 27 and engages the upper end of one of the piston members, such as the piston member 32. Thus, as the piston 27 is movedup and down it causes a corresponding movement of the piston member 32 and an opposite movement of the piston member 34.

Suitable linkage is provided to interconnect the piston members 32 and 34 and the stinger 23, and, as illustrated, this comprises a cross arm 36 pivotally connected to the body 10 of the tester in the upper portion of the slot 12 by means of the pin 38, the ends of which arm are pivotally secured to the lower ends of the piston members 32 and 34. A substantially vertical arm 39' is secured to one end of the cross arm 36 and is pivotally connected to the upstanding ear or projection 41 disposed at the upper end of the stinger 23. Thus, as the piston arrangement is manipulated, by means of the linkage shown, the stinger 23 pivots on the pin 21 and isurged into the formation as illustrated in Figure 2.

In order to receive a fluid sample of the pore content of the formation being tested, interconnecting fluid passages 45 and 47 are provided in the stinger 23, the latter being in alignment with a fluid passage 49 in the pin 21 when the tester is in fluid sample taking position, as illustrated in Figure 2. To aid in properly alignupper end of the stinger 23 which engages the downwardly facing stop shoulder 53 disposed at the lower end of the body 10 thereby providing a stop for. the generally lateral swinging movement of thestinger 23. A fluid passage 55 is provided in the pin 21 in fluid communication with a fluid passage 57 in the body 10 of the tester, the latter extending to and communicating with the piston chamber 25 whereby fluid may flow through the tester, about and through the loosely fitting piston 27 in the chamber 25 and on up into the interior passageway of the operating string of pipe 24 to the surface of the ground, not shown.

Figure 4 better illustrates the valve arrangement for bringing the fluid passages 47 and 49 into and out of alignment in order to close the interconnectingfluid passages. To provide an effective seal between the pin 21 and the stinger '23, a packing '59 is firmly held against the stinger by means of a compression spring 61 disposed in. the annular recess 63 .in the pin 21. A fluid passage 65 is provided which communicates the well bore fluid with the recess 63 to equalizethe pressure of the drilling mud on the packing '59.

' It is noted that the other parts of the tester are suitably packed off in the usual manner and no detailed description thereof is deemed necessary.

In order to actuate the tester, the jars 67 are lowered by means of a cable 69 inside the pipe 24 and the jars are worked up and down to hammer the piston 27 into a downward position thereby actuating the pressure equalizing piston members 32 and 34, and, by means of the linkage shown, thereby urging the stinger 23 into the formation as illustrated in Figure 2. in operation, my tester is threaded to the lower end of the string of pipe 24 and lowered into the bore hole. The bore hole is normally filled with mud, and at any point where it may be desired to make a test, the jars 67 are lowered and piston 27 is hammered from the position shown in Figure 1 to the position illustrated in Figure 2 thereby manipulating the stinger 23 into the side of the bore hole as previously described. When the stinger 23 is in sample taking position, as illustrated in Figure 2, the fluid passages 47 and 49 are brought into alignment and the pore content of the formation being tested may flow through the interconnected fluid passages 45, 47, 55 and 57, through piston chamber 25 up through the interior passageway of the pipe 24. In order that the pore content or fluid from the formation will not be contaminated with drilling, mud, a sealing element 71 of any suitable flexible material, such as rubber, neoprene and the like, is provided to seal ofl that portion of the formation being penetrated by the stinger. The addition of this sealing element, however, is not necessary to the operation of the tester.

An upward pull on the string of pipe 24 will remove the stinger from the formation and cause it to approach the position illustrated in Figure 1. This closes the interconnecting passages by moving passage 47 out of alignment with passage 49 and the apparatus may then be removed from the well bore or lowered or raised to make another test, as desired.

A modification of the tester is shown in Figure in which the fluid passage 57 is in communication with a fluid passage 75 provided in the piston member 32 only when the tester is in fluid sample taking position. The ear 39 has the fluid passage 77 registering with the passage 75 whereby the fluid is permitted to flow up into the interior of the string of pipe 24 to the surface. The operation and remaining parts of this modification are the same as in the above-described tester and no further description thereof is deemed necessary.

While the jars 67 have been illustrated for the purpose of hammering the piston 27 downwardly, any suitable means to move the piston members 32 and 34 may be used. For example, the mandrel, and associated means illustrated in my divisional application, now Patent No. 2,688,369 may be used.

From the foregoing description it is manifest that I have developed an apparatus which will accomplish the objects set forth, and while the particular forms of my invention herein described are well adapted to carry out the objects of the invention, it is to be understood that various modifications and changes may be made Without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for testing a formation traversed by a well bore having fluidtherein, when attached to a string of pipe, including, a body, formation engaging means pivotally mounted on the lower end of said body, interconnecting fluid passages in said body and in said formation engaging means establishing fluid communication with the interior of the string of pipe, pressure equalizing means in the body including a pair of piston members linked together and adapted to move in opposite directions upon movement of one such piston member, a valve associated and movable with one such piston member normally closing said interconnecting passages, linkage connecting one of said pair of piston members for pivoting said formation engaging means into engagement with a side of said well hole, and means for moving one of said pair of piston members and thereby the valve to open position and the formation engaging means into engagement withthe side of the well bore.

2. An apparatus for testing a formation traversed by a well bore having fluid therein, when attached to a string of pipe, comprising, a body, a generally conicalshaped formation penetrating means pivotally mounted on the lower end of said body, interconnecting fluid passages in said body andin said formation penetrating means establishing fluid communication with the interior of said string of pipe, pressure equalizing means in said body including a pair of piston members linked together and adapted to move in opposite directions upon movement of one such member, linkage connecting one of such pair of piston members with said penetrating means, a valve associated and movable with one of such pair of members normally closing said interconnecting passages, and means to actuate said pressure equalizing means whereby such formation penetrating means is urged into engagement with a side of the Well bore and said valve is opened.

3. An apparatus for testing a formation traversed by a well bore having fluid therein, when attached to a string of pipe, including, a body, a probe movably mounted on the lower end of said body and adapted to engage the side of-said well bore, interconnecting fluid passages in said body and in said probe establishing fluid communication with the interior of such string of pipe, a valve assembly operatively connected to said-probe and normally closing said interconnecting fluid passages, aid valve assembly adapted to be moved to open position on movement of said probe, pressure equalizing means in the body including a pair of piston members linked together and adapted to move in opposite directions upon movement of one said member, linkage connecting one of said members and said probe, and means adapted to engage said pressure equalizing means and movable relative to said body for actuating said pressure equalizing means for urging said probe into engagement with the side of the well bore and simultaneously opening said valve.

' 4. An apparatus for testing a formation traversed by a well bore havingfluid therein, when attached to a string of pipe comprising, a body, formation engaging means movably mounted on said body, normally closed interconnecting fluid passages in said body and in said formation engaging means establishing fluid communication with the interior of said string of pipe when opened, pressure equalizing means in the body equalizing the hydrostatic pressure of said fluid in said well bore, said pressure equalizing means including a pair of piston members linked together and arranged to move in opposite directions upon movement of one such member, linkage connecting one of such pair of piston members with said formation engaging means, a valve associated and movable with one of such pair of members normally closing said interconnected fluid passages as aforesaid, a piston chamber in said body above said pressure equalizing means and adapted to receive upper portions of said piston members, and mean movable in said piston chamber and engaging one of said piston members for actuating said pressure equalizing means and thereby the valve member to open position and the fiorm-ation engaging means into engagement with a side of the well bore.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which the means movable in said piston chamber for actuating said pressure equalizing means comprises jars operable from the surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

